Smooth-fielding, soft-spoken Matt Dominguez is in line to be the Astros' regular third baseman this season. (Karen Warren/Chronicle)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – It’s hard to get a rise out of Matt Dominguez.

Ask him about becoming the Astros’ third baseman this season, and Dominguez barely blinks. He quietly speaks, his face and eyes often turning downward while discussing an opportunity the No. 12 overall pick of the 2007 MLB draft has spent six pro seasons working toward.

Dominguez is 23. He’s played only 48 games in the majors and just 31 for the Astros. But the soft-handed slick fielder is years beyond his big league experience. Half California and half Florida, fully laid back and always calm, Dominguez already has evolved into one of the Astros’ infield anchors.

“He’s even-keeled for being so young,” outfielder Justin Maxwell said. “He’s got an incredible glove – he reminds me of Scott Rolen by the way he plays third base. The sky’s the limit for him.”

While first-year manager Bo Porter pushes, screams and motivates during spring training drills and second baseman Jose Altuve bounces around the bag, Dominguez rarely buzzes. Except when he snags a liner, swoops down for a tag or swings sharply in the cage. Then his potential shines. Then it becomes clear what the rebuilding Astros see in Dominguez: power, pop, spark and youth. A leftover from the ever-changing Miami Marlins. A bridge who can connect the 2013 Astros with 2015.

“The one thing I know about Dominguez … defensively, this guy can win 10 Gold Gloves, because he’s that good defensively,” Porter said. “The only question mark would’ve been, is the bat going to play well enough in the big leagues? And he will have every opportunity this year to establish himself as an every-day third baseman.”